Holidays on Wangerooge

Beach and swimming

The bathing beach is a few metres from the village, below the promenade. From mid-May to mid-October lifeguards patrol two marked bathing areas there. From 15 September the western bathing area is only guarded on request, and you register by phone the day before.

In the west, at the Lower Beach Promenade (Untere Strandpromenade), is the surf beach, which suits experienced surfers. At the eastern end of the bathing beach is the dog beach, with its own beach chairs.

Roofed wicker beach chairs (Strandkörbe) are available from 1 April to 31 October, and they are cheaper online than on the island. For July and August the island recommends renting the chair for your whole stay. East of the main beach, two sleeping beach chairs are available from May to September, in which you can spend the night on the beach.

Sights

• Old lighthouse: Built in 1855 and a viewing tower since 1972. 161 steps lead to the top, and the island museum is on the ground floor.
• Westturm: The island's landmark is a replica of the old Westturm, which stood until 1914. Today it houses the youth hostel.
• Island railway: The narrow-gauge railway takes 15 to 20 minutes from the West landing stage through the salt marshes to the village.
• National park centre: An exhibition on the Wadden Sea on Friedrich-August-Straße, where you book guided mudflat hikes.
• Viewing platforms: At the Bielefelder Haus in the west and at the Jever platform in the east.
• Churches and observatory: The Protestant Nikolaikirche, the Catholic church of St Willehad and the observatory at the Inselheim Rüstringen.

Activities

Mudflat hikes: The national park centre offers a short mudflat hike of around an hour and a half, and a long one of around three hours for ages eight and up. For the long tour you need wellies and must register. Mudflat hikes also run in winter, so book early. Never go onto the mudflats without a guide.

Cycling: Several hire firms offer bikes, e-bikes, cargo bikes, tandems and go-karts, but no helmets. The seafront promenade and Zedeliusstraße are pedestrian zones. E-bikes faster than 25 km/h are banned. Repair stations are at the Westturm and at Café Neudeich.

Oase: The seawater leisure pool with sauna and health centre is open all year, with shorter hours in winter.

With children: There is a dune playground, two beach playgrounds in season and a guest kindergarten for three to eight-year-olds. Children aged 4 to 13 can play at the Sockenland children's play house. On the beach children get a free wristband with their beach chair's number. Pushchairs travel free on the ferry.

Other things to do: Tennis, a 9-hole golf course, horse riding and a cinema.

Best time to go and climate

Wangerooge has no weather station of its own with long-term records. The long-term averages from the nearest station, on Langeoog, give you a rough guide:

The bathing season with a lifeguarded beach runs from mid-May to mid-October. High season is from 15 March to 31 October and from 26 December to 6 January. In winter the beaches are largely empty, some restaurants close for a break, and ferry services may be cancelled when there is ice.

Events

The Westturmlauf (Westturm run) takes place in June, and in August kites fill the sky at the kite festival. In summer there are flea markets in the Rosengarten, and in September the Lichttage (light festival). The spa administration keeps the events calendar.

Dogs on Wangerooge

From 15 March to 31 October dogs must be kept on a lead both in the village and outside it, and all year round in the quiet and transition zones of the national park. The bathing beach is off limits to dogs. Dogs must be on a lead at the dog beach, but they may swim there. Off-lead areas are in the east between Bootsweg and Café Neudeich, and in the west from the surf beach to the level of the saltworks. There is a dog shower at the Lower Beach Promenade.

There is no vet on the island. On the ferry your dog pays the child fare, and on the plane it needs a muzzle.

Visitor's tax

You pay a visitor's tax for every overnight stay, at a lower rate in the west of the island than in the central part of the village. Day visitors pay their tax with the day ticket. Thanks to the tax, many events are free. How to pay, and what to know about luggage and accommodation, is on Where to stay on Wangerooge.

Day trip from Harlesiel

From Harlesiel the ferry takes around an hour, and then the island railway brings you to the village in 15 to 20 minutes. So allow around 90 minutes for the journey. The day ticket includes the ferry, the island railway and the day visitor's tax. Departures depend on the tides and change every day, and so does the time you have on the island. The island flight is quicker, taking around five minutes.

Timetable, prices and parking in Harlesiel are on Ferry to Wangerooge.